REAKSMEY KONGKEA

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA Cambodia plans to send 10 taekwondo fighters to represent the country in five different international taekwondo competitions. The venues for the three competitions scheduled for this year include Vietnam, South Korea and Thailand. The Plans were revealed by Choi Yong Sok, Coordinator and National Team Head Coach for the Cambodian Taekwondo Federation (CTF). The Cambodian Taekwondo Federation was established in 1995. It aims to promote Taekwondo, a traditional Korean martial art. Aside from learning a useful self-defense technique, members also enjoy the benefits of healthy exercise and good company. Yong Sok, a Korean national and highly experienced Taekwondo Coach has attained a Black Belt; Sixth Dan, awarded under the authority of the Korean Taekwondo Federation in Seoul, South Korea. He said he was thrilled by the prospect of seeing his trainees in action at the South East Asia Taekwondo Championships. The first of these competitions will take place in Ho Ch...

Cambodian Traditional Music Artists Perform in South Korea

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA In accordance with a gracious invitation from the Korean Government, six of Cambodia’s veteran traditional music players including composers Tro Sau, Tro Ou, Khloy, Roneat and Ta Khe will perform in Seoul. The artists left Cambodia on May 20 for the ASEAN-Korea Traditional Music Festival. These performances will take place on May 31 and June 4, 2009, in Seoul, Republic of Korea, said Dr. Sam Samang, Personal Advisor to the Minister for Culture and Fine Arts, Him Chhem. Dr. Samang who is the Head of Cambodian traditional music artist group said according to the invitation, the artistes will stay in Korea from May 20 to June 5, 2009. They will join 70 other traditional music players from 11 countries. There will be representatives from all ASEAN member countries as well as Korea, the host nation. “This marks the second occasion that we have been honored with an invitation from the Korean Government to play traditional Cambodian music,” he told The Cambodia Weekly...

Cambodia Takes Measures to Reduce Traffic Accidents

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA Prime Minister Hun Sen has requested the Minister of Interior, Minister of Justice, and Minister of Public Works and Transports to work together and examine articles of Traffic Law to encourage all motorbike riders to wear helmets whenever using the road. Road traffic accidents are now a major concern for the government. Speaking before the ministry of the Interior, May 19 he said “Road traffic accidents are a national scourge. To reduce the rate of deaths and injuries I suggest that all relevant officials and ministries work hard together and take immediate measures to reduce the rate of road fatalities.” The Prime Minister said that early his year, motorcyclists were informed that they must wear helmets. However, only 50% are currently doing so. Hun Sen suggested that relevant authorities examine the possibility of confiscating motorbikes from those riders who ignored the law. “I think that the system of fines has not worked. Confiscating the machines until s...

Scholar Student Sok Mey Tells About Her Future Dream

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA Dok Sok Mey, 18, one of The University of Cambodia’s “Samdech Hun Sen-Handa National Scholarships 2008” students, has described her future dream while speaking to The Cambodia Weekly during an interview on May 18. Sok Mey lives in Phnom Penh, where she was born in 1990. Her father is a motor mechanic and her mother sells clothing in Kandal market here in Phnom Penh. Sok May is now studying English Literature with the University of Cambodia (UC) and also studying Economics at the Royal University of Law and Economic Sciences (RULES). She passed the scholarship exams offered by UC on September 22, 2008. “It was a great achievement for me to have passed the UC entrance exams. They were a challenge and I was very pleased with my results,” she told The Cambodia Weekly May 18. “With this preliminary out of the way, I am now free to enjoy the many benefits that UC has to offer.” Currently bringing her first year at UC to a profitable conclusion, Sok Mey said that s...

Cambodia Marks 30th Anger Day to Remember the Killing Field

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA Roughly 6,000 government officials, students and teachers have gathered at Choeung Ek Museum, a former Khmer Rouge murder facility pockmarked with mass graves, located in Dangkor district, about 15 Kilometers Southeast of Phnom Penh. The Khmer Rouge regime was in power from 1975 to 1979. The 30th memorial ceremony was organized by the Phnom Penh Municipality and presided over by Chea Soth, a member of the National Assembly of Cambodia. Parliamentary member, Sim Ka, and Kep Chuktema, Governor of Phnom Penh Municipality accompanied him on this searing occasion. About 40 students from the Royal University of Fine Arts and the National School of Fine Arts in Phnom Penh re-enacted torture and execution scenes in painful recreations of atrocities inflicted by woefully misguided Khmer Rouge cadres on countless innocent victims. The performers wore black uniforms, the standard attire of the Maoist-inspired movement. Some of them acted as executioners, swinging bamboo s...

By Buth Reaksmey Kongkea and Soy Sophea Cambodia’s Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) jointly announced on May 22 that Cambodia remains clear of A/H1N1 despite rumors to the contrary. This is according to Dr. Sok Touch, Director of the Anti-Communicable Disease Department in Ministry of Health. “I would like to confirm that to date, there are no confirmed cases of the A/H1N1 virus in Cambodia.We remain vigilant and will continue to take all necessary preventative measures,” he said during a telephone interview with The Cambodia Weekly on May 22. He said the national team included members of the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the National Committee for Disaster Management, the World Health Organization, and other related ministries, all pulling together to prevent appearance of the disease. Dr. Sok Touch also said that the Ministry of Health would be able to stamp on the disease should it appear, using existing equipment and ...

Worldwide National Wu-Shu Championship Competition 2009

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA The Cambodia Wu-Shu Federation (CWSF), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education Youth and Sport (MoEYS) will organize a worldwide national Wu-Shu Championship Competition. The competition will take place over five days from 19th-23rd June, at the National Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh. About 200 Wu-Shu contenders, both male and female from 11 Wu-Shu clubs and associations from cities and provinces across the nation will attend the competition, said Mao Chan Thavuth, Secretary General of the Cambodia Wu-Shu Federation. Chan Thavuth said that this year’s competition marks the fourth time that CWSF and MoEYS have organized the national Wu-Shu championship competition in Phnom Penh. “The main objective of the competition is to select the best Wu-Shu contenders for the year and prepare for future international competitions. It also seeks to raise the profile of “Wu Shu” which is an ancient and energetic Chinese sport. It was introduced to Cambodia in 2000,” h...

Phnom Penh-Hip Hop Festival Performance

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA The French Cultural Center (CCF), in collaboration with the Meta House will organize the “Phnom Penh-Hip Hop Festival”. The event will take place over two weeks from 16th to 24th May in Phnom Penh and it is hoped that it will raise the profile of the art form throughout the Kingdom of Cambodia. Three renowned hip hop dancers from Europe, including French B-Boy Choreographer Sebastien Ramirez and German dancer, Niels Robitky alias “Storm” will be teaming up with Cambodian classical dance groups in what looks to be a fascinating fusion of ancient and modern, East and West. They will be working alongside 20 young Cambodian hip-hop dancers from the Tiny Toones Organization, a local NGO. Nicolas Mesterharm, Co-organizer and Director of Meta House, said this will be the first time that CCF and Meta House have worked in collaboration, resulting in the Phnom Penh-Hip Hop Festival. Nicolas said that the main purpose of the throw-down was to give Cambodian youth a platfo...

Cambodian Women Receive Vaccines against Tetanus

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA The Ministry of Health has urged women between the ages of 15 to 45 to present themselves for tetanus inoculation. Dr. Veng Thai, Director of the Municipal Health Department in the Ministry of Health, said the tetanus vaccination program started in 1996 and in that time over 1 million Cambodian women have received the vaccines each year. The Director said that for this year, the MoH’s tetanus vaccines injection program has been running since early February and will end in May 2009. Dr. Thai emphasized that most of the women who have received tetanus jabs are garment industry workers, factory workers and home-makers. He said the injection service is free of charge for all women and the campaign is conducted at all public hospitals or health centers in cities and provinces throughout the country. “The tetanus vaccination is very important for our women as they are the mothers of the next generation,” he said during a telephone interview with The Cambodia Weekly o...

Cambodia Celebrates the Royal Plowing Ceremony

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA About 10,000 people have attended the Royal Plowing Ceremony on May 12 in the Veal Men Park near the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh. Known locally as “Bon Chrot Preah Naingkoal”, the celebration was conducted by His Majesty Preah Karuna Preah Bat Samdech Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia. The traditional ceremony was organized by the Royal Palace and the Committee for Organizing National and International Festivals. Dith Munty, President of the Supreme Court, served as Sdach Meakh, who offered to add his strength to augment that of the Royal hand; his wife served the Queen in the capacity of Mehour and sowed seeds behind her husband while he helped direct the team of oxen. Kang Ken, Chief Royal Astrologer of the Royal Palace, said the Royal Plowing ceremony constitutes a significant religious event for Cambodia because the celebration hopes to encourage the powers of Heaven to bless the farmer and his agricultural activities. The ceremony is timed to co...

Scholarship Student Aims for Doctoral Degree in Economics

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA Kong Vong Seih Sothy, 18, one of The University of Cambodia’s Samdech Hun Sen-Handa National Scholarship students has described his wishes at an interview with The Cambodia Weekly on May 11, 2009. Vong Seih Sothy has one brother and one sister in his family – he is the oldest, and they are now staying in Phnom Penh. His father is an officer, working with the Cambodian Red Cross in Phnom Penh and his mother is a home-maker. He is now studying Economics at The University of Cambodia (UC) in Phnom Penh, having passed the scholarship exams in September 2008. Before graduation with The University of Cambodia, Vong Seih Sothy studied at Sisowath High School in Phnom Penh, earning a Baccalaureate in 2008. He then applied to study Economics at UC following the introduction of the “Samdech Hun Sen- Handa National Scholarships” in 2008. “I am overjoyed to have passed the scholarship exams from The University of Cambodia,” he said. “I am also very happy because I am now a...

Cambodia Holds Council Election for Cities, Districts and Provinces

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA A total of 11,353 party operatives from 1,621 Communes and Sangkats will select representatives in Council elections to be held May 17. All four political parties including the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), FUNCINPEC, the Sam Rainsy Party and the Norodom Ranariddh Party, will be fielding contenders, according to Tep Nytha, Secretary General of the National Election Committee (NEC). The Secretary General said the election process will begin at 7:00 am on Sunday, May 17, 2009 with 217 polling stations distributed across the country and will close at 3: 00 pm on the same day. There are a total of 3,235 candidates standing for selection; 374 candidates are standing for municipalities with the remaining 2,861 candidates hoping for election to provincial, district and khan council seats, said Nytha. He added that the Candidate lists for the four political parties recorded the names of 17, 290 candidates including 8, 506 titular and 8, 784 substitute candidates. “Th...

Cambodia Prepares Hospitals to Receive Influenza Patients

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA The Royal Government of Cambodia has been working hard in preparation for the expected appearance of Influenza A/H1N1. Cases have already been recorded in Thailand, according to Mam Bunheng, Minister of Health, who was speaking to The Cambodia Weekly during a telephone interview on May 14. To prepare, the Ministry of Health has recently prepared isolation rooms and other facilities at many principle hospitals in cities and provinces across the country said Bunheng. These include Calmette Hospital, Preah Kossamak Hospital, Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital, Siem Reap Provincial Hospital, Kampot Provincial Hospital, Stung Treng Provincial Hospital and Kampong Cham Provincial Hospital. All have been equipped to ensure a speedy recovery for patients as and when they present themselves for treatment. According to Bunheng, each hospital will set aside 5 to 20 beds to receive A/H1N1 influenza patients, should it arrive on these shores. In addition, thermal scanners h...

Cambodia’s Progress on Press Freedom Recognized

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA World Press Freedom Day has been celebrated this year under the banner: “The Media’s Potential: Dialogue, Equity, Mutual Understanding, and Reconciliation”. Co-organized by the Press Council of Cambodia and the United Nations, Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the event has hosted at the National Institute of Education in Phnom Penh on May 4. Its overall purpose was to remind the world of the media’s role in protecting fundamental human rights. Khieu Kanharith, Minister of Information, said that over the years, the media and freedom of press have displayed an impressive rate of development and progression compared to other countries in the region. He said that Cambodia’s Press Laws of 1997 fully guaranteed rights for local media. He singled out journalists, as it is their duty to help the Royal Government of Cambodia promote and strengthen the rule of law and democracy in Cambodia. “I affirm that Cambodia’s press freedom has indeed dev...

Heng Lyhorth On Course To Become IT Programmer

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA One of The University of Cambodia’s “Samdech Hun Sen-Handa National Scholarship 2007” students, Heng Lyhorth, 22, has provided an interview to The Cambodia Weekly on May 4. Mr. Heng Lyhorth was born in Saang district, Kandal Province on November 6, 1986. He comes from a sizeable family with three brothers and two sisters and he is the youngest in the family. He now studies Information Technology (IT) at UC, having passed the university’s scholarship exams in 2007. “I was overjoyed to pass the scholarship exams offered by the University of Cambodia,” he told The Cambodia Weekly. “If I did not pass the exam, I would probably not be able to study at UC because my parents cannot afford to send us all for further study at university level.” Lyhorth said his brothers and sisters had graduated from high school in Saang district, but to date, he is the only member of the family to blaze a trail towards academic success and the increase in wages this brings. Lyhorth is...

Cambodia Makes Security Provisions for ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA The Royal Government of Cambodia has taken measures to provide security for the duration of a two-day ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting, to be held over 27th to 28th May 2009. The meeting will take place at the Intercontinental Hotel, in Phnom Penh. Khieu Sopheak, Spokesman of the Ministry of Health, said the Royal Government of Cambodia would take all necessary measures to ensure a safe, productive and restful environment wherein Ministers may discuss topics free from interference. To guarantee security and safety the delegates, the Ministry of the Interior, in collaboration with the Phnom Penh Municipality will deploy thousands of armed operatives including members of the police, the military police, intelligence officers, anti-human trafficking personnel, anti-drug police and members of the fire service. They will be deployed around strategic parts of the city, said Sopheak. “With all of these people and measures in place, we can guarantee a safe and trouble fre...

Cambodia Celebrates Visakha Bochea Ceremony

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA About 50,000 Cambodians including Buddhist monks, nuns and laymen who proclaim Buddhism have attended celebrations for Visakha Bochea Day, May 8 at the Udong Mountain, known as “Phnom Addharus”. According to tradition, the Buddha’s ashes were located in Ponhear Leu district, in Kandal province. Besides regular worshippers, senators, Members of the National Assembly and other government officials participated in this religious ceremony. This annual ceremony is arranged by the National Committee for Organizing National and International Festivals (NCONIF) and is presided over by Samdech Heng Samrin, President of the National Assembly. The ceremony implores the Lord Buddha to provide grace and merit upon the faithful. Chea Kean, Deputy General Director of NCONIF said that this year of Visakha Bochea marks the Buddhist calendar year 2553. Chea Kean said that as over 90 percent of Cambodians are Buddhists, Visakha Bochea or Buddha Day is a very important day in the ...

Cambodia Celebrates Visakha Bochea Ceremony

Cambodian Gymnasts Win Bronze in First Asian Championship

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA Twenty Six Japanese medical doctors from the Japanese Medical and Pharmaceutical Group (JMPG), led by Dr. Makoto Nishimoto, have provided free health check ups, general health education and dental treatment for pupils at the Bak Touk Primary School in Phnom Penh. This heartfelt gesture was made on May 4. The health and dental checkups were arranged and coordinated by the Health Department in the Ministry of Education Youth and Sport, the Bak Touk Primary School authorities and JMPG medical team. About 1,000 pupils of the Bak Touk Primary School from grade 2 to 6 befitted from the checkups. Pen Saroeurn, Director of the Health Department in the Ministry of Education Youth and Sport, said the activities aimed at ensuring a healthy body as the residence of a healthy and well-educated mind. This is all the more important as these young scholars will go on to become the leaders of tomorrow. He also said that the medical checkups would serve to increase and strengthe...

Japan Provides Health Check Ups for Cambodian Pupils